Attachment for mouthpiece of reed instrument



June 20, 1961 v. B. HOUSER 2,988,947

ATTACHMENT FOR MOUTHPIECE OF REED INSTRUMENT Filed April 10, 1958 INVENTOR. VERNON B. HOUSER 552 fir 2 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 2,988,947 ATTACHMENT FOR MOUTHPIECE 0F REED INSTRUMENT Vernon B. Houser, 6202 Snow Road, Parma 29, Ohio Filed Apr. 10, 1958, Ser. No. 727,670 9 Claims. (Cl. 84-383) This invention relates to wind-operated musical instruments, such as clarinets, saxaphones and the like, and more particularly, to an attachment for the mouthpiece of a reed instrument, for controlling the embouchure in order to reduce or prevent the pinching of the reed by the operator, under certain operating conditions.

It has been established that, in order to produce the best tone on a reed instrument such as a clarinet or the like, it is essential that the player does not force the tone through the instrument but plays with a normal wind pressure, it being important to keep in mind that it is the vibration of the reed which produces the tone rather than the instrument. One of the common mistakes in playing a clarinet is that of exerting too much pressure on the reed, thereby bending it against the lay of the mouthpiece and producing a distorted tone. The foregoing problem is especially noticeable in the cases of novices who are inexperienced in controlling the embouchure, frequently resulting in the pinching of the reed when attempting to increase the volume, this condition producing unsatisfactory tones.

It is obvious that, if means were provided for preventing the pinching of the reed and at the same time allowing for flexibility of control of the tone by the player, more satisfactory tones could be produced.

I have discovered that by providing an attachment for the mouthpiece of a clarinet, which permits the player to control the tension on the reed and at the same time prevents the pinching of the reed, it is possible to eliminate one of the common causes of faulty tone production.

Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide an attachment for the mouthpiece of a reed instrument which controls the molding of the players lips along the reed in such manner that pinching of the reed is prevented, even though the player asserts excessive pressure on the mouthpiece.

Another object is to provide an attachment for the mouthpiece of a reed instrument which is positive and automatic in action and operates without conscious eifort on the part of the player to actuate it.

A further object is to provide an attachment, of the type described, which may be readily attached and installed on various types of standard instruments with a minimum amount of etfort.

Another object is to provide an attachment for musical instrument mouthpieces which is positive in action, simple in operation, adapted to be produced at a relatively low cost, and is durable and serviceable in use.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent in the following specification.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a clarinet mouthpiece, including an attachment for the forward end of the mouthpiece, the advanced position of the attachment being illustrated in broken lines while the attached position is illustrated in full lines;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the device illustrated in FIG. 1, showing the attachment in its attached position;

FIG. 3 is a central longitudinal section through the device, taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the device; and

ICE

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating the operating position of the device when it is being played.

In the drawings, the numeral 10 refers generally to the mouthpiece of a clarinet, which is bored centrally, i.e., provided with a central bore, as indicated at 11. The mouthpiece 10 is provided with a rearward end 12 which is reduced in diameter relative to the remainder thereof, and having a band of cork around its outer periphery where it is adapted to be attached to the barrel of a clarinet, not shown herein. The mouthpiece 10 has a forward end 18 which is provided with a fiat sloping top wall 14, and a generally tubular mouthpiece attachment member 15 is mounted forwardly of the flat sloping wall 14 of the mouthpiece 10, the same having a flat top sloping wall 16 corresponding with the sloping top wall 14 of the mouthpiece 10.

The mouthpiece attachment member 15 includes, in addition to the fiat top sloping wall 16, side walls 17, and a bottom wall 19, the top wall 18 corresponding in pitch to a flat top Wall 20 at the forward end of the mouthpiece 10, while the side walls 17 are spaced apart in order to permit them to be fitted along side walls 21 connected to the top wall 20 at the forward end of the mouthpiece 10. Guide pins 22 project forwardly from the mouthpiece 10, one being disposed on each side of the side walls 21, and extend into apertures 23 in the attachment member 15, permitting the attachment member 15 to be moved along on the guide pins and serving to hold the attachment in its attached position at the forward end of the mouthpiece 10.

By referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, it will be noted that the bottom wall 19 of the attachment member 15 is spaced at short distance below the lower margin of the mouthpiece 10 providing a reed-receiving opening indicated at -31, and the inner surface of such wall is provided with resilient tensioning means 24 formed of sponge rubber. A reed 25, formed of wood or other suitable material, is disposed along the outer surface of the mouthpiece 10, i.e., along the fiat bottom wall 32 of the mouthpiece 10 and extends along the bottom surface of the attachment member 15 and through the opening 31 in such manner that it is placed under tension by the resilient tensioning means 24 formed of rubber. The forward end of the reed 25 is disposed at the forward end of the mouthpiece 10.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, the bottom wall 19 of the attachment member 15 is of substantial thickness and is provided with a V-shaped notch 26 extending rearwardly from the front edge thereof. The function of the notch 26 is to permit the lip of the player to press against the lower surface of the reed 25 with sutficient force to control the operation of the reed and, at the same time, to prevent undue pressure from being asserted against it. To this end, the side edges of the forward end of the reed are covered by the wall 19 of the attachment nearly to the tip of the forward end of the reed, as seen in FIG. 2. The rearward end of the reed 25 is secured to the outer surface of the mouthpiece 10 by means of a pair of ligatures 27 encircling such mouthpiece. The co-operating ends of the ligatures 27 are releasably secured together by means of violin screws 28 engaging cooperating eyelets in the ends of the ligatures. Various types fo ligatures may be used for securing the reed to the mouthpiece. I have found, however, that the position and tension of the ligatures around the mouthpiece may be satisfactorily accomplished by using two ligatures. The mouthpiece 10 is provided, a short distance rearwardly of its forward end with a sponge rubber gasket 29 which extends around the top and side walls 20 and 21 respectively, said gasket permitting the attachment member 15 to be moved slightly relative to the mouthpiece "unease? a predetermined distance along the axis thereof. The

gasket 29 is seated against a shoulder 30 located near the forward end of the mouthpiece 10.

The mouthpiece attachment member in its normal position is disposed against the forwardly facing surface of the rubber gasket 29 when the instrument is being played, as illustrated in FIG. 5. The reed 25 is disposed along the lower outer surface of the mouthpiece 10 and the attachment member 15, with the ligatures 27 surrounding the rearward end thereof, while the forward end thereof extends through the space between the bottom wall 19 and there to be held under tension by the tensioning means 24.

The V-shaped notch 26 in the bottom wall 19 is of such configuration and shape that it permits the lip of the player to bear against the undersurface of the reed 25 with only sufiicient pressure to control the vibration of the reed without pinching the same. Frequently, when the player produces a loud note, there is a tendency to press against the forwardend of the mouthpiece with such pressure that the reed is pinched, causing a poor tone to be produced. By the use of the invention herein disclosed, when the player produces a loud tone and presses the mouthpiece attachment member 15 toward the mouthpiece 10, the amount of such movement is restricted due to the mounting of the attachment member 15 in such manner that it slides upwardly along the walls 20 and 2,1 of the mouthpiece 10 and along the guide pins. This upward movement of the attachment member 15 draws the bottom wall 19 of the attachment member 15 upwardly a slight distance, thereby permitting only slightly increased pressure on the reed at that point, the rubber gasket 29 being compressible and permitting a limited movement of the attachment member 15 toward the mouthpiece 10.

Thus it will be understood that the upward movement of the attachment member 15 and hence the amount of compression against the reed are controlled by the composition and arrangement of the rubber gasket 29, and thereby means are provided allowing a predetermined amount of compression on the reed. The depth and configuration of the V-shaped notch 26 controls, within certain limits, the amount of pressure normally exerted by the player on the reed 25. The construction, arrangement and position of the tensioning means 24 controls somewhat the normal amount of lip pressure on the reed for most ordinary types of tones. Thus, when the player desires to produce increased volume and presses against the attachment member 15, the additional compressive force toward the reed is limited by the distance the attachment member 15 is moved upwardly, which, in turn, is determined by the gasket 29.

The mouthpiece herein disclosed, while particularly adapted to be used by beginners, to prevent pinching of the reed, may also be used by experienced players. It will be noted that the mouthpiece attachment member 15 is positioned and arranged at the forward end of the mouthpiece It) in such manner that it operates automatically without requiring the attention of the operator. The mouthpiece herein disclosed may be made of any suitable material, such as a plastic material, and the reeds may be formed of wood or other material. The mouthpiece is adapted to be used on single reed musical instruments, such as clarinets, saxaphones and the like. Having thus described this invention in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, and having set forth the best mode contemplated of carrying out this invention, I state that the subject matter which I regard as being my invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in what is claimed, it being understood that equivalents or modifications of,

out departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in what is claimed.

I claim:

1. In a reed-type instrument of the type including a bored mouthpiece having a reed extending along an outer surface thereof and secured thereto, said reed having side edges and a forward end with a tip, said mouthpiece having a forward end and a rearward end, said rearward end of the mouthpiece being connected to the body of said instrument, the improvement comprising, a device for controlling the pressure of the players lip against said reed, including a substantially tubular member surrounding said mouthpiece at the forward end thereof and extending across the outer surface of said reed, said member being provided along its forward edge with a rearwardly extending, centrally disposed cut-out portion exposing a central portion of said reed, but leav ing the side edges of the reed covered nearly to the tip of the forward end of the reed, whereby the players lip is afforded limited surface contact with said reed through said cut-out portion.

2. A device of the type described in claim 1, in which said cut-out portion is in the form of the letter V with its open end disposed forwardly.

3. A device of the type described in claim 1, including resilient tension means resilient in a direction normal to the axis of said reed, and against which the reed is disposed.

4. A device according to claim 3, in which the forward end of said cut-out portion of said cross member has a transverse width at its open end substantially corresponding to the width of said reed.

5. A bored mouthpiece for reed-type instruments, said mouthpiece being provided with an outer surface, a forward end and a rearward end, said rearward end being adapted for connection to the body of the instrument with which it is to be used, said mouthpiece having a sloping wall at the forward end terminating at a shoulder extending around said mouthpiece inwardly of the forward end thereof, a mouthpiece attachment slidably mounted on and surrounding the forward end of said mouthpiece forwardly of said shoulder and separated from said shoulder by a flexible member, a reed disposed longitudinally along the mouthpiece and supported on the outer surface thereof, said attachment having a first wall including a longitudinally extending opening disposed laterally beyond that portion of said mouthpiece along which said reed is disposed, said reed passing between said first wall and that portion of the outer surface of the mouthpiece along which the reed is disposed, the longitudinally extending opening in the first wall exposing a portion of said reed, thereby permitting the players lip to contact the reed over a limited area, said attachment including a forward sloping second wall disposed over said mouthpiece sloping wall, whereby upon exerting axial pressure on said attachment in a direction toward said mouthpiece said attachment rides upwardly along said mouthpiece sloping wall, thereby causing portions of said first wall to be moved upwardly against said reed, the resiliency of said flexible member permitting a limited movement of said attachment in the direction of said shoulder.

6. A device of the type described in claim 5 including resilient tension means disposed along the reed at the forward end of said attachment, and against which the -reed is disposed.

7. A device of the type described in claim 6 in which said first wall is disposed across a portion of said reed, said longitudinally extending opening being formed by a cut-out portion at the forward portion of said first wall.

8. A bored mouthpiece for a reed-type instrument, said mouthpiece having an outer surface, and forward and rearward ends with the rearward end being adapted for or substitutions for, parts of the above specifically described embodiment of the invention may be made withconnection to the instrument with which said mouthpiece is intended for use, said mouthpiece being provided with an inclined surface at its forward end, a hollow mouthpiece attachment surrounding the forward end of said mouthpiece in engagement with said inclined surface, and slidably mounted thereon, a reed supported on and extending along the outer surface of said mouthpiece and attachment diametrically opposite said inclined surface, said attachment being provided with a wall spaced a short distance laterally of the portion of the outer surface of the mouthpiece along which the reed extends, said reed passing through the space between said wall and the portion of the outer surface of the mouthpiece along which the reed extends, resilient means disposed on the inner surface of said wall and bearing against said reed, said attachment upon application of axial pressure at the forward end thereof and in a direction towards the rearward end of said mouthpiece by the players lip being moved along said flat inclined surface, said wall being thereby moved a predetermined limited distance toward said reed.

9. A bored mouthpiece for reed-type instruments, said mouthpiece having an outer surface forward and rearward ends, with the rearward end being adapted for connection to the instrument with which said mouthpiece is to be used, said mouthpiece being provided with an inclined surface at its forward end, a hollow mouthpiece attachment slidably mounted around the forward end of said mouthpiece and movable along said inclined surface, a reed supported on and extending along the outer surface of said mouthpiece and attachment, said attachment being provided with a wall spaced a short distance laterally of that portion of the outer surface of the mouthpiece along which the reed extends, said reed passing through the space between said wall and that portion of the outer surface of the mouthpiece along which the reed extends, resilient means disposed on the inner surface of said wall and bearing against said reed, a shoulder disposed at the forward end of said mouthpiece towards which the rearward end of said attachment is adapted to move, so that upon the application of axial pressure at the forward end of said attachment towards the rearward end of said mouthpiece, said attachment is moved upwardly along said flat inclined surface toward said shoulder, thereby causing said attachment wall to be moved a predetermined limited distance toward said reed, and a resilient member disposed against the front face of said shoulder for limiting the axial movement of said attachment towards said shoulder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,446,623 Humes Feb. 27, 1923 1,789,639 Selmer Jan. 20, 1931 2,292,584 Tafarell a Aug. 11, 1942 2,499,855 Gamble Mar. 7, 1950 

